"This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.Jodi Picoult

I've shared the quote above in other posts, but it's perfect for today's Throwback. My folks have both passed away over the last few years, and when I look back at old images, there's this incredible appreciation for those special moments from the past.

Throwback Thursdays have two primary benefits. First, they bring back memories and so often, like the series on the right, they make me laugh. They take me on a time machine journey back to a moment in time where everything truly was almost perfect.

The three images on the right are of my Dad and me. We were visiting my Aunt Rose while my folks were out in California. She had a Meyer's lemon tree in the backyard and declared them to be almost as sweet as oranges. Well, Dad and I decided to try them out - straight off the tree!

I know they're grab shots, but that doesn't change the fun I have thinking back to that day.

The second primary benefit for Throwback Thursday, especially for those of you who are professional photographers, is sharing the images with your clients. It's the perfect marketing tool to remind them how fast the kids are growing, life is changing and the importance of capturing memories.

Throwback images are perfect blog content too. So many of you are regularly stumped with what to post, but you've got a gold mine of content in your files.

Remember, women make 98% of the purchase decisions to hire a professional photographer in the portrait/social categories. So, for most of you that means "MOM," but you've got to plant the seed about the importance of capturing those memories and turning them into tangible photographs!

"Why?"

Check out"Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog.It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound byte. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. There were fifty different artists featured in 2016 and we anticipate doubling that in 2017. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.

Authors

Skip Cohen is President of SCU, founder of Marketing Essentials International and past president of Rangefinder Publishing and WPPI. He's been an active participant in the photographic industry since joining Hasselblad USA in 1987 as president. He has co-authored six books on photography and actively supports dozens of projects each year involving photographic education.

Special Guests

SCU is proud to bring you some of the most recognized photographers in the industry. You'll also meet a few not so well known, but with terrific ideas to help you build a stronger business model.

Scott Bourne

Scott Bourne has retired, but as the first Dean of Marketing at SCU, a professional photographer and educator his support was critical to the success and growth of SCU. From time to time you'll see a reference to one of his Marketing Monday posts from the SCU or GoingPro archives.